Rich Hofmann

DAILY NEWS SPORTS EDITOR

Rich Hofmann arrived at the Daily News in 1980 for a job whose status was officially designated as "full-time, temporary." A senior at Penn at the time, he was hired to fill in on the copy desk during a staff illness. The notion of him covering the Eagles or being a columnist did not exist in anyone's imagination. It was supposed to be six weeks and out, but he never left. It is only one of the reasons why so many people have concerns about him as a potential house guest.

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I don't know yet what Eagles coach Andy Reid is going to say, about Donovan McNabb, about Thanksgiving night, about the future. But it is over. After his halftime benching against the Baltimore Ravens, the McNabb era in Philadelphia is over.

Reid could very well keep his own counsel on this one. He could give it a day before announcing his decision because that is what he does. But we are finished here. McNabb is finished here. After three more turnovers in the first half against the Ravens -- three turnovers, zero points, oh well -- Reid yanked his starting quarterback and replaced him with young Kevin Kolb. And we are done.

After which, the Eagles completely rolled over and lost to the Ravens, 36-7.

Again, we are done. Ten years and over -- just like that. A few weeks ago, this was one of the highest-scoring offenses in the National Football League. Now, this is a group that cannot do anything. Running back Brian Westbrook has no first step, no burst, no nothing at this point because of a lingering ankle sprain. Backup Correll Buckhalter hurt his knee and barely played after the first couple of series. There is no third running back because Reid did not dress Lorenzo Booker. That this is borderline malpractice goes without saying.

But the quarterback was terrible, again. He started off decently but crumbled after a sack/fumble early in the second quarter. Two more interceptions followed, along with a streak of pronounced wildness. And then Reid made the decision that, whatever he says, will be impossible to undo. The Eagles were trailing by only 10-7 but he yanked the franchise.

That Kolb was no better just added to the whole downspiral. He threw two more interceptions, including one that the Ravens' Ed Reed returned 108 yards for a touchdown, an NFL record.